Watch live as NASA scientists reflect on Cassini now that the mission to Saturn has come to an end

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere early Friday morning, vaporizing like a small meteor in the Saturnian sky.

Cassini began breaking apart in Saturn’s atmosphere at 3:31 a.m. Pacific time, but it took more than an hour for its last signal to reach Earth. Mission managers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge shared the sad news that Cassini has passed at 4:55 a.m.

Revelers joined community members and indigenous leaders from around the world at the Symbiosis Gathering in Big Summit Prairie, Ore., to mark the Great American Eclipse.

Revelers joined community members and indigenous leaders from around the world at the Symbiosis Gathering in Big Summit Prairie, Ore., to mark the Great American Eclipse.

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Revelers joined community members and indigenous leaders from around the world at the Symbiosis Gathering in Big Summit Prairie, Ore., to mark the Great American Eclipse.

Revelers joined community members and indigenous leaders from around the world at the Symbiosis Gathering in Big Summit Prairie, Ore., to mark the Great American Eclipse.

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This motion graphic shows highlights of Cassini's missions from 2004-2017.

This motion graphic shows highlights of Cassini's missions from 2004-2017.

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NASA employees, friends and family attend a watch party at Caltech for Cassini's final signal back to Earth.

NASA employees, friends and family attend a watch party at Caltech for Cassini's final signal back to Earth.

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Eclipse chasers will tell you that seeing a total eclipse will change your life. But keep in mind, a total eclipse is a fleeting phenomenon. (Aug. 15, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)

Eclipse chasers will tell you that seeing a total eclipse will change your life. But keep in mind, a total eclipse is a fleeting phenomenon. (Aug. 15, 2017) (Sign up for our free video newsletter here http://bit.ly/2n6VKPR)